Welcome to Hardware

The New Zealand Certificate in Information Technology (NZCIT) is a qualification recognised by the New Zealand Qualifications Authority (NZQA). This certificate outlines what a graduate should be able to achieve, described through a series of "Graduate Profile Outcomes" (GPOs). Based on these GPOs, organisations such as Yoobee Colleges develop specific "Learning Outcomes" (LOs), which they then submit to NZQA for approval.

LOs are the goals for what is going to be taught. They need to be measurable and are measured during the assessments. As LOs are goals, they need to be specific and so can be very technical. If it discusses "tools" it is expected that more than one tool will be covered while "a method" means that only need to cover one method.

In the CIT Hardware course there are five LOs which are:

1. Manage hardware using technical support practices in order to meet organisational requirements. 
2. Support and enhance hardware systems using applicable tools, models, and techniques in order to improve performance.
3. Apply professional and ethical practices to hardware maintenance projects in order to enhance awareness of social responsibility as an emerging IT professional. 
4. Resolve hardware service-related issues using a collaborative approach in order to enhance communication skills. 
5. Apply problem-solving and decision-making techniques to complete a hardware project in order to support an innovative undertaking. 

We have a range of people who study in the programme and some have no knowledge of computers at all, while others are simply looking for a qualification to consolidate their knowledge. The course is structured so that even those with no knowledge of IT can succeed.

The material in this Yoobee Online course covers the basics of Hardware. It introduces types of computing devices and components in them.  Those who have little to no experience putting computers together are encouraged to use the PC Building simulator to discover the process for assembling a PC and some troubleshooting techniques. The CompTIA books also provide a useful reference as to what different components are and how they go together. For those who prefer videos, the CompTIA series by Professor Messer is worthwhile: https://www.professormesser.com .

Once you have mastered the basics of hardware, we will look at things such as managing hardware in an enterprise environment and detailed troubleshooting processes. The NZCIT covers knowledge of why things are done, the skills to be able to do things, and attitudes required of an IT professional.

The attached document further unpacks the Hardware course LOs. Please take the time to read it and go over what is involved. 

You will be undertaking a Forum Learning Task and will contribute to an ongoing discussion with your peers and your tutor as you progress through the course. 

This Forum Learning Task is not graded. It is an ongoing activity that you will refine as you learn more over the Hardware course. 

Firstly, you will need to create an individual thread in the Hardware Task Forum which you will keep adding to as the course progresses. Follow the instructions in the thread 'How to create a forum'.

NB. If you are assigned a group, please write that in brackets after your name in the thread (e.g., "Ari Taylor (Hall of Famers)" or "Jane Tawhiri (Group 5)").  Each group member must be able to justify the details of their response.

Over the duration of the Hardware course you are going to learn how to put together systems that meet different requirements. In the scenario there are three clients who need a computer system. The learning task scenario for the forum is detailed below in the Task Forum Scenario.

Throughout the course, you should read and discuss what your peers have selected for each client and why they have made the choices that they have. You should also try to understand why others have come up with different solutions to yours. The goal is that, at the end of the day, when you are an IT professional and a client comes in asking for a recommendation for a system that they want, you will be able to evaluate their needs and make a concrete recommendation that meets the needs of the client.

Task Forum Scenario

You are going to learn how to put together a hardware system that meets a specific client's needs.

Either individually, or in groups of at least three people, discuss the following and then come up with some recommendations to share.

You have three clients, who want a customised computer for a specific purpose. You have been requested to select the hardware components for each system. 

Clients

The three clients are: 

1. An amateur eSports player 
2. A freelance videographer who needs a system for editing video clips of up to 10 minutes at 4K 
3. A kitchen cabinet manufacturer who wants a Computer Aided Design (CAD) system that will render the final design so that they can show the design to their clients 

Hardware Components

For each of the components listed below, describe the key features each system will require and then select a suitable product based on the needs of each of the users. Use a hardware retailer such as eLive, or PBTech to gather information about the hardware selected for the three system users. Justify your decision with a reason why the particular component was selected. 

List of Components 

In the Hardware Task Forum, share: 

1. The specifications of the hardware components you have selected.
2. If possible, in your notes about the system include:

• results from building the systems within the PC Building Simulator and evaluating the performance of each 
• the key features required (e.g., large storage, fast access to system, mixed storage systems, GPU with a large amount of memory, monitor capable, etc.). 

3. Include a list of the components (listed below) you selected with a justification of why you selected them:

•  CPU 
• Motherboard 
• RAM 
• Graphics Card 
• Storage  
• Power Supply 
• Case 
• Monitor 
• Other Peripherals 
• Notes about the system   

Provide feedback to at least two other hardware selections from your peers and discuss the justifications and possible alternatives.

For example; 

Q. Why did you choose the i7 Processor rather than an AMD? 
A. Because I thought the graphics for eSports event would be better on an i7. What do you think?